Gone Walkabout...

This blog was going to be about my travels and impressions I had from them. But my attention span went walkabout. And like with any good walkabout I discovered unexpected things. I invite you to come explore with me...

Monday, July 27, 2009

Nashville Bonsai Society show

I attended my first bonsai show put on by the club I joined this spring. Not only did I help where I could, I was able to take two classes. It was quite a learning experience!

Observed big-time how folks put their displays together. Bonsai are always displayed in show on some sort of "stand". It could be as simple as a bamboo mat to a wooden stand up to a little miniature room! You can also use a stone, or a wood slab or such.

My first workshop was on putting together kusamono. What's that? It is a little "companion planting" that is displayed with a bonsai. Its size is in ratio to the size of the bonsai - so they can be very tiny. The name means literally "grass thing". Ikebana - the Japanese floral arranging - is very similar in feel, except kusamono uses living plants and can last several years or longer (tho you will have to redo it as the plants grow). Tho normally you use 3 plants, tho there are some that have only one plant. It can be a bowl of moss (very pretty). Kusamono can be planted in little tiny pots, or on driftwood pieces, or on stones with pockets and so on.

The other workshop was done by Roy Nagatoshi - a 2nd generation bonsai Master. He makes it look easy! This workshop was "bring your own tree" and he helped each person with whatever they needed. I had a tree I'd just gotten and learned quite a bit with his help.

It was so much fun! I can't wait til next year. And by then I'll have something to put in the show too!

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About Me

My life is eclectic. I taught EMT on Ft. C and adult ed classes at a local college. I was in charge of a program on Ft. C that taught ESL and worked with soldiers as they prepared for their INS naturalization exams. I was president of a non-profit that partnered with the State Dept in sending aid to Russia after the collapse of the USSR. Now I am a photographer.
I live in the NOW mode... No Opportunity Wasted! I go at it full throttle. I swam with dolphins in Key Largo, flew on the old Aeroflot and survived!, have hot air ballooned in Kenya, love to ride hunter/jumpers, I take culinary classes, been snorkeling in Aruba, have learned various heritage handicrafts, go on major road trips... the list is long. I sponsor 6 kids overseas.
Himself retired in '99 (after 22 years in SF) and we now travel. I've been to 16 countries & 38 states. In '08 we bought a house on the river. My focus now is on making this house into our home.